Monday, November 16, 2009

Shall We Gather?


Today a fat little squirrel visited me and the cats.
I dug through the pantry to find something healthy for a squirrel and found the walnuts I bought at Whole Foods. I knew the squirrel would appreciate them more than I would.

(adorable, isn't she?)


I thought about the symbolism of squirrel and this time of year. Even LA squirrels have to gather for leaner times. We all gather things. I think people forget that what we gather has a direct effect on our healthy future, in the same way that the squirrel gathers healthy food to support himself. He prepares for a healthy future.





To quote myself from an earlier post: "Sometimes preparation means lightening your load, freeing up resources, readying for change. Get rid of things that don’t suit you or the goal you have in mind… whether these things are attitudes, perspectives, spouses, beliefs, people, relationships, etc. Things that don't speed your progress. Things that keep you so occupied in an old pattern, that you end up being less prepared for your future."


I realized that I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately about what I want to gather, and what I don't want to gather any longer. What supports me and a healthy outlook and perspective? If I gather and gather for fear of lack in the future, I then live overburdened in the present by all that I'm carrying. I will actually slow myself down by what I'm choosing to gather. Preparation is a good thing, but too much preparation and you get stuck in waiting for the need to use what you've gathered.


A good friend of mine is carrying everything his family tells him to carry, so that he can feel like a good person. I see another friend of mine playing a role they think makes them valuable to a mutual friend. And I watch my talented husband who seems to realize, with such ease, what to worry about, and what not to worry about. All this makes me think about what I'm carrying. What have I gathered that no longer serves me? And what I can let go of? Psst... did you know we can actually give ourselves permission to let go of things?


I'm gathering new things and casting off the old, in preparation for a healthy future. And I'm feeling ten pounds lighter already. I needed a reminder. I'm grateful. It seemed only fair to feed the reminder the walnuts.



If interested, you can read more from my previous squirrel post about gathering; just click over *here*


~Shephard :)

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